I've adopted a paralyzed toddler Squirrel! Any underwear advice to prevent UTI?

[Chickenninja]

Hey y'all! I've been lurking around here for almost a month and am so thankful for all the questions asked and advice given! So to start, I'm a exotic breed chicken farmer so I'm not new to caring for animals but I have zero experience with squirrels. About a month ago I found a young one crawling around on it's front legs but dragging it's back end. After a google search I was pretty sure he was around 10 weeks old. I got out my old birdcage and put him in with a heating pad and a fleece hoodie. He immediately drank the watered down Pedialyte with some crushed tums with the dropper I had on hand. He also ate walnuts and strawberries. I tested his response in his feet, legs and tail over the next several days with no response at all. Everywhere I called would have euthanized him so I decided I'm going to give him the best life I can. He goes to the bathroom on his own and has a very strong upper body and loves to climb and hang from the jungle gym I made for him. We did hit a snag though, a few days ago I started to really notice the smell when he peed and he wasn't eating or drinking as much. I realized he has a UTI so I talked with my country vet and we worked out the dosage for his antibiotics and pain relief. He was so lethargic that I thought I was going to lose him but today he perked up! I want to prevent this happening again if possible so I am looking for suggestions for a way to keep his little man protected as he scoots around. Can I any know ne of ointment or power to keep the skin protected?

[supersquirrelgirl]

Hi ChickenNinja,

Glad you finally became a TSB Member - Welcome! TSB has many squirrel experts that can help you. Thank you for caring for a para-squirrel with special needs. Its people like you that make the world a better place.

You will get answers in the morning so hang-on.

I'm curious what antibiotic and pain meds you are using for UTI issue. Good news your squirrel is feeling better.

Mr.SSG

[Chickenninja]

Hi ChickenNinja,

Glad you finally became a TSB Member - Welcome! TSB has many squirrel experts that can help you. Thank you for caring for a para-squirrel with special needs. Its people like you that make the world a better place.

You will get answers in the morning so hang-on.

I'm curious what antibiotic and pain meds you are using for UTI issue. Good news your squirrel is feeling better.

Mr.SSG

Amox,Clav and meloxicam. When I first got him I tried making the formula with goats milk etc... he rejected it 100% and even chewed and tried to fight with the droppers. Since he drank freely from the water dish and was eating freely I didn't push the issue and left a small portion of vanilla Activia and he really liked that. When I started the antibiotics a few days ago I decided to try again since he was lethargic and was barely eating. This time I made the formula with a bit of pancake syrup and now he only fights it a little at first and will take 2 to 3 droppers full at a time. I give his meloxicam with his formula feeding in the morning and his antibiotic midday with Pedialyte. I am also giving him droppers of water all through out the day but if he is fussy about it I don't force it. He woke me up in the night chewing on his pear tree branches so that made me happy. I am known for taking in everyone's sick or injured chickens and ducks and it is my passion, this is an exciting new adventure. Before Mr. Man I had no idea how sweet and loving and social squirrels are. I can't stop talking about him and sending videos to friends, my favorite is when I am petting the side of his face and neck and he lifts his little arm for me to scratch his belly...just like a dog when you find a sweet spot...totally adorable.

[CritterMom]

Well, Chickenninja, I have sent a PM to one of our members who has experience in this area, Chickenlegs (yes, honest!!) Hopefully she gets it and chimes in.

[Chickenlegs]

Your little man needs a Skute. A simple Skute is so easy to make, you can whip out a dozen in a few minutes. Someone else asked for directions and unfortunately, I don’t seem to be able to send her pictures. I’m going to try to put them on the Squirrel board. He’ll always have a clean skute to zip around in and that will help with UTIs. I can give you directions as far as making sure that he’s safe in his Skute you’ll need directions as to putting it on, but I think that’s gonna require more than I can send you in a post. I’m going to private message my phone number. You can call and we’ll talk about it.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Amox,Clav and meloxicam. When I first got him I tried making the formula with goats milk etc... he rejected it 100% and even chewed and tried to fight with the droppers. Since he drank freely from the water dish and was eating freely I didn't push the issue and left a small portion of vanilla Activia and he really liked that. When I started the antibiotics a few days ago I decided to try again since he was lethargic and was barely eating. This time I made the formula with a bit of pancake syrup and now he only fights it a little at first and will take 2 to 3 droppers full at a time. I give his meloxicam with his formula feeding in the morning and his antibiotic midday with Pedialyte. I am also giving him droppers of water all through out the day but if he is fussy about it I don't force it. He woke me up in the night chewing on his pear tree branches so that made me happy. I am known for taking in everyone's sick or injured chickens and ducks and it is my passion, this is an exciting new adventure. Before Mr. Man I had no idea how sweet and loving and social squirrels are. I can't stop talking about him and sending videos to friends, my favorite is when I am petting the side of his face and neck and he lifts his little arm for me to scratch his belly...just like a dog when you find a sweet spot...totally adorable.

Thank you for antibiotics (AB) info. Your Vet did good and hope the UTI gets resolved.

I can tell you are full of love and caring for animals and Mr.Man is lucky to have you. Thank you! You belong on TSB and I'm so glad you decide to be a member. Your squirrel adventure has just begun and it will change you forever. Enjoy every moment! TSB has many members that have years of experience to help as needed. In return, we ask for squirrel pictures and periodic updates as we all love them.

Glad to see a member jumping to help with your Mr.Man's little man. Have fun!

Mr.SSG

[Chickenninja]

[JLM27]

Well, Chickenninja, I have sent a PM to one of our members who has experience in this area, Chickenlegs (yes, honest!!) Hopefully she gets it and chimes in.

Chickenlegs is also Porky Possum on Face Book.

[Mel1959]

Does Mr. Man take any formula? I think Fox Valley 20/50 tastes the best and he might be more interested in it if you haven’t tried it.it must be purchased online from Henrys Pets or the Fox Valley website.

Have you provided Mr. Man with a rodent block? It’s very important that he eat some type of rodent block for his long term health. The rodent blocks from Henrys Pets are well liked. They are a supplemental block and as an adult he should eat 2 per day. There are other hard extruded rodent block like Envigo Harlan Teklad 2018 (online) or Mazuri and Oxbow Rat Food which you can get at many pet stores. Not eating a block isn’t an option. The block will provide the necessary calcium to keep him from developing metabolic bone disease.

He sure is a cute little guy. . Thank you for giving him a chance at a good life.

Here’s the list of acceptable foods for a captive squirrel. https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...-Pet-Squirrels

[Mel1959]

Please be careful who you share information about Mr.Man with. You live in a strict state and you don’t want the authorities to confiscate him.

[Brina13]

Hi. I have a 9 week old para. I was wanting to get info on the Skute as well. We’ve rehabbed squirrels for a few years, but this is our first para. She was attacked by a hawk & her/sister were brought to us at 5 weeks old. They are both great - they’re both in the weaning stage - close to being completely weaned from fox valley formula — they enjoy Henry’s picky eater blocks, but are not fans of Henry’s healthy blocks. They’re both eating sweet potatoes, apples, pumpkin, walnuts, pecans in addition to the fox valley formula and Henry’s blocks. They’re thriving, gaining weight, developing. Our para was x-rayed by the vet - her spinal cord is completely severed. She does urinate and deficate on her own without stimulating/expressing. Both hind legs are paralyzed. Her tail seemed to be - she has no feeling or had no feeling in those areas; however her tail started twitching a week after the vet did a laser treatment on her. It turned out to not be a fluke twitch, she’s moving it - not in the normal squirrel way, but she’s definitely trying & she’s definitely able to get it to flick around and move. Most of the tail fur is flat against her tail (like when they are younger before it starts to fluff out), but in the past two weeks, approx a third of the tail fur closest to her body has fluffed some so we’re viewing it as a big positive! Her feet seem to twitch at times - it doesn’t appear to be a body twitch, more like intentional on her part. She seems to try to use her legs to scratch like a regular squirrel, but the legs never cooperate obviously….but she seems oblivious to that. She’s super strong & nothing holds her back or stops her. She climbs, plays, eats - she’s absolutely amazing! Her sister that isn’t paralyzed is doing just as great & will be releasable in the future whereas our para won’t be releasable & we’ve been modifying things to keep her & make her comfortable, happy, entertained etc.
She doesn’t have scooting sores yet….but she does have some worn area in her fur in spots & we don’t want that progressing at least not if we can help it. We want to do anything and everything we can to make being paralyzed easier and her life happy.

[olorin19]

First (and sorry if I missed this in the thread), but what is your para squirrel's name?

One word of caution as gets more mobile and starts to climb:

Please make sure she is capable of turning around and climbing back down on her own, as opposed to having to simply letting go then falling.

I had a quadriplegic Ziggy for 2.5 years, and he had some use of all four limbs but not great strength or coordination. Despite not being able to sit up on his own other than leaning on something, Ziggy liked to climb. In his case, however, while he was great at going up, he had no ability to turn around and come back down.

So, it was important to create a safe environment for him so could climb without hurting himself: His cage was long and wide but only about 16" tall, and the sides were metal closet shelving where there was a horizontal rail about 3-4" up to help him pull himself upright but the remainder of the walls were vertical bars.

Ziggy had an old couch cushion covered in fleece that he was able to climb up then continue on in a straight line to come back down on his own without injury.